Backs&Blacks@ChaletMargaritka

More familiar faces came back in February. This included ‘The Girls’- Alison, Yvette and Angela who were exceptional value last year and who really appreciate our efforts to make everyone feel ‘home from home’ at the chalet. They like to make sure ‘Monsieur’ (chalet host) does not get away with too much as well! They were joined by new people like Helen and Luke – fit as fiddles and they most certainly liked to ski. I might have overdone it a touch with them on the first morning though – hope not?

Paul Boreham, a regular visitor came back for a second time this season – he must like us!! This time he brought his two daughters with him to entertain the Tsar (Alex). And, Sue and her son James visited the chalet for the first time – no doubt the Tsar had a ball over half-term.

I’ve also added a few pictures from my own travels well ‘off the beaten track’ – skiing in a place called Volen about 50 kms north of Moscow!!

The excellent early season snow meant Chalet Margaritka had many old and new visitors during January…..

For New Year some great repeat guests who we now see as friends came and saw in 2013 with us. Team Brennan brought two new friends with them – Darren and Helen. A great time was had by all, as the pictures below testify too.

It would seem that the Alps are heading for one of the snowiest Decembers in years. Over 30 cms has fallen in Morzine and the surrounding villages this week with another 20 cms due over the weekend.

Rita has never been so ecstatic – yes you’ve guessed it – I’ve not been around!

All pictures taken from the chalet across or down the valley.

Temperatures plummeted across Europe this week which meant the snow arrived early. Please take a look at some pictures taken from the chalet earlier this week. It all looks fantastic. Should bode well for the forthcoming season.

The first serious snow of the Winter also hit Moscow with a vengeance this week. The city experiencing its biggest November snowstorm in 50 years with the average monthly, November snow falling in only 2 days. Just prior to this, I managed to catch the Spartak v Barca Champions League game at the Luzhniki stadium (last week). Barca are simply a marvelous team – two chances and the game was all over. A bit hard on Spartak who played quite well, had their own chances but never took any. That’s football at the top level these days I guess! It was very frustrating for the 80,000 Spartak fans who had turned up for the game.

Chalet Margaritka’s final guests of the Winter arrived in early April and over Easter. The weather was good, pistes relatively quiet and the skiing just fantastic. Infact, it just kept snowing all Winter – even in April, after most international skiers had disappeared the weather cooled and the snow returned. It has even kept on snowing after Avoriaz closed on 22nd April – every day you can see snow half way down the Super Morzine mountain which is visible from the chalet.